What should have happened: Epic Fail

It was not a good day.

Do you ever have one of those days when you know this is exactly why you started a personal finance blog? If you’re not a blogger, maybe its when you realize it’s time to buy a time management book. You look at your day and you realize that you’ve made every possible “most expensive ever” choice that you could make? Today was one of those days for me, observe:

What should have happened:

At work this morning, a client had an appointment for an X-ray in the community and required that two staff be present when he is transported within the community. I have made the arrangements ahead of time with a coworker and have given her all the information.

I have planned ahead and met my coworker at the doors so we can help the client get prepared for his trip to the hospital. He requires extra time to get ready due to his condition and I have built this step into my plan for his appointment. I confirm that I have the appropriate information required for his appointment and double check our destination. We arrive with plenty of time to spare and all goes smoothly.

What actually happened:

At work this morning, I forgot about the appointment until I was in the car headed to work and realized I should have been there already. Quelle surprise, I was half an hour late and had to madly text the coworker my thousand apologies for wasting her time.

I show up, beg apologies again from coworker, and rush the client into the car. I am rattled and end up driving half way across the city to the wrong hospital – goodbye $10 in gas, it was nice knowing you. We arrive at the right hospital after slogging through traffic at the other side of the city. I park in hospital parking and find an extortion bank machine to pay for parking on my way out – $4.00 in service charges because it’s not my bank.

We’re way behind and my coworker has another commitment in an hour and a half. I lean on the X-ray clerk to move us along, a la Tony Soprano, and have to crowbar the client into the actual X-ray room because he was rushed along and is now digging in his heels. He finally complies and we are able to make it back to the centre on time – with no shortage of Dukes of Hazard driving stunt work. (I’m sure there’s going to be one of those camera speeding tickets waiting in the mail in a few weeks)

What should have happened:

At work this afternoon, I had an appointment to take a client downtown to a program. I have planned ahead, left my agency with plenty of time to arrive at my destination, and found a convenient parking spot near the agency. I pull out my wallet from its dedicated compartment in my bag and deposit the appropriate amount of change into the meter. The client and I arrive at the program with fifteen minutes to spare and he happily skips off to engage positively with other clients.

What actually happened:

Mwahahaha…I cost you eight dollars

At work this afternoon, I had an appointment to take a client downtown to a program. I have not planned ahead – I’m running twenty minutes behind and I have no idea where to park. I find a parking spot and dig into the black hole that is the bottom of my giant work bag. I find a couple of dodgy quarters after about five minutes and I plug into the meter to stave off parking-ticket-land for a few minutes.

I drag sulking client to the program and deposit him at same. I run to find another extortion bank machine at some random corner store and pay $4.00 in service fees to pull out a couple of twenties. I then go up to random corner store clerk clutching some chocolate snack thing so I can change the twenty for some coins. I proceed back to parking meter and plug it with another bloody eight dollars in coinage.

What should have happened:

I now have three hours to pass with the client in program. I am required to stay downtown and pick up the client from program at a designated time. I decide to take a lunch break and walk to the local park where I enjoy my packed lunch which is both nutritious and appetizing.

After enjoying the afternoon sun, I have a list of work tasks that I can accomplish while the client is otherwise engaged and head to the local library where I can be productively engage in said tasks.

What actually happened:

I cost you $9.00, what’s not to love?

Belatedly, I realize that the partially-thawed frozen dinner that’s been carelessly tossed into the backseat of my car will not work for lunch. I’m starving so I quickly locate designer coffee house with unfortunate pricing to pass some time and grab something to eat. I consult the menu boards behind the counter without regard for pricing and realize I’m paying $10.50 for a mystery egg salad sandwich and a small cranberry cocktail when I hand over my bank card. I am full of rage.

I find a table and consult my arm. Why, you ask? Because I have scrawled some last minute reminders from Nursing in Sharpie on my arm – schedules I have to coordinate and tasks I have to organize. In between chewing on an overpriced designer sandwich and slurping back cranberry cocktail, I try to figure out how to herd cats (staff and tasks). I spend the rest of the afternoon engaged in email wars and client wrangling.

We all have those really annoying days that don't go as they should. Best to learn from mistakes, and stay motivated by remembering how unpleasant the day really was. At least, that works to keep me motivated to make necessary changes. Especially when it comes to time management :)

Hey Squirrelers!
Thanks for commenting - annoying days are definitely fodder for "how to do things differently", aren't they? I need the extra step of writing it down (or blogging it) to make me think about it and then get motivated to change! I can be blindingly unobservant when I get busy!
Cheers
Lindsey

Hey Kim
Yeah, most of the time - it's generally sane(ish) but I do have a habit of getting overly ambitious and bite off more than I can chew. These days are a good reminder to slow down and find a different way of doing things.
Cheers
Lindsey

Hi Grayson
You're very right, a time management book would be a great addition to my "how-to" section of my library. I was thinking about my "should have happened" day and decided to start writing about some of the other things I struggle with in my "Life under Construction" section. I'm hoping it will be help me stay accountable, learn, and grow from these charming moments. ;-)
Thanks for the comment!
Lindsey